Wheeled action toy having rocking motion



Feb. 1, 1966 w. P. DOE 3,232,003

WHEELED ACTION TOY HAVING ROCKING MOTION Filed Feb. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7o 68 ss (h Pl 60 6| A j 62 42 23 2 E 5*. 1| l8 l2 l: INVENTOR.

WALTER F? DOE BY FIG. 2 4 74;

TTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1966 w. P. DOE 3,

WHEELED ACTION TOY HAVING ROCKING MOTION Filed Feb. 2'7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALTER P. DOE

United States Patent 3,232,003 WHEELED ACTION TOY HAVING ROCKING MOTION Walter P. Doe, East Aurora, N.Y., assignor to Fisher- Price Toys, Inc., East Aurora, NY, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 261,344

13 Claims. (CI. 4699) This invention relates to an action toy. More particu larly, the invention relates to an animated trundle toy.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel, attractive, action toy. A related object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character described that is particularly suitable for children in the age group between about 1 year old and about 4 years old.

Another object of the invention is to provide an action toy for young children that is structurally simple and rugged, to withstand rough handling, and that can be manufactured by simple, inexpensive manufacturing processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an action toy for young children that embodies an unusual combination of animation and sound effects that will attract and hold the attention and interest of young children.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an animated action toy of the pull type, that is unusual in appearance and in performance, that will quickly develop and hold the interest of young children, but that is characterized by simplicity of construction and particularly by simple mechanical means for producing the animation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel action toy that is constructed from a small number of parts that can be fabricated and assembled relatively inexpensively, by modern mass production techniques, so that the manufacturing cost can be kept at a low level.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character described that has a durable construction and that does not have sharp or other potentially dangerous parts exposed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings: a

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an action toy that is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is primarily a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, but also showing a fragmentary section along a different, lengthwise-extending plane, to show the manner in which the simulated exhaust pipe structure is arranged;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the toy in one of its extreme positions, and showing in dotted lines the opposite extreme position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by numerals of reference, the numeral denotes generally an elongate block that is shaped generally to resemble a farm tractor, and that is appropriately painted to the same end. This block is formed with a pair of lengthwise-extending, downwardly depending arms 11, 12, respectively, providing a lengthwise-extending channel 14, therebetween. These arms 11, 12, are formed, adjacent the front end of the block, with opposed openings within which a square section shaft is journalled. A pair of small wooden wheels 16, 17, are secured to the opposite ends of this shaft respectively, to support the front end of the block 10 for wheeled movement over a support surface.

A toothed wheel 18 is secured on the shaft 15 in the channel 14, intermediate the arms 11 and 12, for rotation upon rotation of the shaft. The wheel 18 is formed with a pair of radially projecting teeth 19 that are angularly spaced from each other by an angle that is greater than 90 and less than 180.

The block 10 is formed with an upwardly-extending, generally cylindrical bore 20 (FIG. 3), whose axis is generally upright and in the longitudinal center plane of the block 10. The block 10 is also formed with a lengthwiseextending recess 23 in the upper face of the channel 14. The bore 20 intersects the channel 14 and the recess 23, and it is formed with an extension 21 of reduced diameter,

thereby roviding a shoulder 22 upon which a stiff, thin,

cardboard diaphragm 24 is seated.

A pin or nail 25 is disposed to extend between the arms 11 and 12, across the channel 14, rearwardly of the bore 20. One end 26 of a spring, that is generally indicated by the numeral 27, is secured around the nail 25. The spring 27 is formed with a short, upwardly and rearwardly inclined segment 28. The spring is then reversely bent upon itself and has a forwardly extending part 29 that is engaged in the recess 23, and that is bent downwardly, then upwardly, then downwardly, to provide a sharply curved portion 30 that is resiliently engaged against the lower face of the diaphragm 24. The spring 27 also has a forwardly projecting free end 31 that is disposed to be engaged by the teeth 19 of the wheel 18 successively, upon rotation of the wheel.

At the front end of the block 10, a drawstring 34 is secured to the block by a staple 35, to permit the toy to be pulled along.

The block 10 is also formed with a bore 36 that is directed downwardly from its upper face, slightly offset from the longitudinal center plane of the block. A tubular section of a rod 37 of a flexible plastic material such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride, is disposed with its lower end engaged in the bore 36 and its upper end projecting from the bore, above the block, to simulate the exhaust pipe of a tractor. The plastic rod 37 is secured in place by a nail 40 that is driven through the side of the block 10.

A second block 41, that is shaped and painted to resemble the body of a farmer driving the tractor, is secured to the tractor block 10 by a large nail 42 that is passed through a bore 44 in the farmer block. This bore 44 is formed with a diameter larger than the diameter of the shank of the nail 42, to permit the farmer block 41 to undergo pivotal movement about the nail 42, but to prea rear face of the tractor block 10. A shaft 46 is mounted in this channel. The shaft 46 is formed at its opposite ends with oppositely directed crank arms 50, 51, respectively. A pair of balloon type wheels 52, 54, are secured on the opposite ends of the crank arms 50, 51, respectively, to rotate the shaft .46, and to rock back and forth both the shaft 46 and the farmer block 41, upon rotation of the wheels.

The farmer block 41 is also formed in its front face with a generally cylindrical bore 56. A nail 57 is driven An assembly that is denoted generally by the numeral 58 represents the farmers head. This assembly 53 includes a rounded head piece 66! that is mounted for pivot- :11 movement about a nail 61 that projects generally upwardly from the top surface of the block 41. The head piece 60 has a flat lower surface 62 and a flat upper surface 64 that is substantially in parallelism with the lower surface. The head piece 60 is formed with a generally upright bore 65, that has a diameter larger than the diameter of the shank of the nail 61, to permit the head piece to rotate freely about the shank of the nail 61. The head piece is also formed with a counterbore 66, that communicates with the bore 65, and that extends downwardly into the head piece from its upper surface 64. The diameter of Lhe counterbore 66 is slightly greater than the diameter of the head 67 of the nail, to permit freedom of movement of the head of the nail within the counterbore.

A circular piece 68 of stiff cloth is disposed over the upper surface 64 of the head piece, and a generally conical member 70, that is formed and painted to simulate the crown of a hat, is secured to the head piece 60 by a nail 71 that penetrates through the conical hat member 70, the cloth 68, and into the center of the head piece.

The proportions of these parts are arranged so that the head 67 of the nail 61 engages against the lower surface of the cloth 68, which is backed up by the lower surface of the conical hat member 70, to support the weight of the head assembly 58, to hold the lower surface 62 of the head piece to above the upper surface of the farmer block 41.

The wheels 52, 54, are constructed in the same way and are substantially identical with each other in structure, both simulating oversize balloon tires in appearance.

In operation of a pull toy that is constructed in accordance with this invention, the pull string 34 is grasped and a forward force on the string pulls the toy over the floor, causing the front and back wheels to rotate. As the front wheels rotate, the toothed wheel 18 is rotated, so that the teeth 19 successively engage against the end of the spring 27, to cause the sharply curved portion of the spring to make successive impacts against the diaphragm 24. These impacts are irregularly spaced from each other because of the arrangement of the teeth on the wheel. The beat produced by these impacts is amplified by the bore 21 behind the diaphragm, which serves as a resonance chamber. The sound effect produced is that of a roarroar, and may be very similar to the noise of a small tractor motor having a small number of cylinders.

As the back wheels are rotated, the shaft 46 is rocked by the action of the opposed crank arms 59, 51, as shown in FIG. 4, first in one direction transverse to the line of travel of the toy, and then in the other. The rocking action of the shaft causes the block 41, representing the body of the farmer or tractor driver, to rock back and forth, between the two limit positions illustrated in FIG. 4.

As the block 41 rocks back and forth, the eccentric mounting of the head assembly, on the pivot nail 61, causes it to undergo an irregular motion as it swings freely about the nail 61, from side to side, with a somewhat ludicrous effect.

If the toy is lifted from the floor and the block 41 is permitted to swing freely about its pivot nail 42, the projecting head of the nail 57, engaging in the bore 55, limits the angular movement of the block 41.

The blocks that form the engine part of the toy, the drivers body, and the drivers head, are preferably constructed from wood, and are finished with rounded corners and edges, to permit the safe use of the toy by a young child. Moreover, all of the mechanisms are concealed for the same reason. The toy is designed to aid the mental and physical development of a preschool child by inducing the child to walk in order to operate the toy, to amuse the child by its action, and to educate the child in elementary motion and mechanical concepts by its construction and operation. At the same time, the toy is one that can be mass produced from readily available materials, using simple mass production processes, and a relatively small number of parts.

While the invention has been described herein by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense, and it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy movable over a supporting surface and comprising:

(a) a first body portion;

(b) means mounted on said first body portion and engaging said supporting surface to support said first body portion for motion that uniformly conforms to said supporting surface;

(0) a second body portion;

(d) means for coupling said second body portion to said first body portion for pivotal motion relative to said first body portion about a generally horizontal axis and generally transversely of the direction of travel of said toy;

(e) a pair of wheels mounted on and supporting said second body portion; and

(f) means associated with said wheels for rocking said second body portion in said pivotal motion in response to rotation of said wheels.

2. A toy according to claim 1 including means for limiting the extent of said pivotal motion.

3. A toy according to claim 1 including:

(g) a third body portion; and

(h) a pin extending generally upright from said second body portion and on which said third body portion is loosely journaled for eccentric, free swinging pivotal motion in response to said rocking motion of said second body portion.

4. A wheeled ty movable backward and forward over a supporting surface and comprising:

(a) a first body portion;

(b) rolling means mounted on said first body portion and engaging said supporting surface to support said first body portion for motion that uniformly conforms to said supporting surface;

(0) a second body portion;

((1) a generally horizontal pin attached to said first body portion and extending from one end of said first body portion and longitudinally of the direction of travel of said toy, said second body portion being loosely journaled on said horizontal pin for pivotal motion relative to said first body portion;

(e) a pair of wheels mounted on said second body portion and supporting said second body portion relative to said supporting surface; and

(f) means for rotating said pair of wheels eccentrically relative to each other so as to rock said second body portion in said pivotal motion in response to movement of said toy over said supporting surface.

5. A toy according to claim 4 including means for limiting the extent of said pivotal motion.

6. A toy according to claim 4 including:

g) a third body portion; and

(h) a generally vertical pin fixed to said second body portion and extending above said second body portion, said third body portion being loosely and eccentrically journaled on said vertical pin for free swinging relative to said second body portion in response to said rocking motion of said second body portion.

7. A wheeled toy movable backward and forward over a supporting surface and comprising:

(a) a first body portion; (b) a first axle journaled in said first body portion;

(c) a first pair of wheels fixed to and coaxial with said first axle for supporting said first body'portion for motion that uniformly conforms to said supporting surface;

(d) a second body portion;

(e) a generally horizontal pin fixed to said first body portion and extending rearwardly thereof in a direction generally longitudinal of the direction of movement of said toy, said second body portion being loosely journaled on said pin for pivotal motion relative to said first body portion and generally transversely of the direction of travel of said toy;

(f) a second axle journaled in said second body portion;

(g) a second pair of wheels fixed to said second axle for supporting said second body portion; and

(h) means associated with said second pair of wheels for rocking said second body portion in said pivotal motion in response to rotation of said second pair of wheels. i

8. A toy according to claim 7 wherein said rocking means comprises mounting of said second pair of wheels for respective opposite eccentricity relative to said second axle. i

9. A toy according to claim 7 wherein said rocking means comprises formation of said second axle as a crank.

10. A toy according to claim 7 wherein said second body portion is formed with a transversely extending recess, its forward surface confronting said first body portion and wherein said second axle is journaled in the recess.

11. A toy according to claim 7 including:

(i) a third body portion; and

(j) a generally vertical pin fixed to said second body portion and extending uwardly therefrom, said third body portion being loosely and eccentrically journaled on said vertical pin for free swinging, pivotal motion relative to said second body portion in response to said rocking motion of said second body portion.

12. A toy according to claim 7 including stop means disposed between said first and second body portions for limiting the extent of said pivotal motion.

13. A wheeled toy movable backward and forward over a supporting surface and comprising:

(a) a forward body portion;

(b) a front axle journaled in said forward body portion;

() a first pair of wheels fixed to and coaxial with said front axle for supporting said forward body portion for rolling motion that uniformly conforms to said supporting surface;

(d) noise making means associated with said front axle and operated by rotation of said front axle;

(e) a rearward body portion; 3

(f) a generally horizontal pin fixed to said first portion and extending rearwardly thereof in a direction generally longitudinal of the direction of travel of said toy, said rearward body portion being loosely journaled on said horizontal pin for pivotal motion relative to said forward body portion generally transversely of the direction of movement of said toy;

g) stop means disposed between said forward and rearward body portions for limiting the extent of said pivotal motion;

(b) said rearward body portion being formed to provide a transversely extending recess in its forward surface confronting the rearward surface of said forward body portion;

(i) a rear axle journaled in said transverse recess, said rear axle being configured to define oppositely disposed crank arms at its respective opposite ends;

(j) a pair of rear wheels, each one of which is fixed on a respective opposite one of said crank arms for imparting said rocking pivotal motion to said rearward body portion in response to rolling of said wheels on said supporting surface;

(k) means cooperating with each of said respective crank arms for preventing rotation of said rear wheels relative to said crank arms;

(1) a generally vertical pin fixed to said rearward body portion and extending upward therefrom; and

(m) an upper body portion loosely and eccentrically journaled on said vertical pin for free swinging, pivotal motion relative to said rearward body portion in response to said rocking motion of said rearward body portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,506 1/ 1904 Wells 46-98 1,681,666 8/1928 Higgins 46-99 1,699,138 1/ 1929 Fuld 46-104 2,165,833 7/1939 Bischof 46-221 2,494,681 1/ 1950 Wisotf 46-98 2,665,521 1/1954 Ford 46-221 2,724,925 11/1955 Fisher et a1. 46-107 2,934,854 5/1960 Comfort 46-107 2,978,832 4/1961 Berbench 46-107 3,046,695 1/ 1962 Henrickson et al 46-104 FOREIGN PATENTS 586,011 10/ 1959 Canada.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

13. A WHEELED TOY MOVABLE BACKWARD AND FORWARD OVER A SUPPORTING SURFACE AND COMPRISING: (A) A FORWARD BODY PORTION; (B) A FRONT AXLE JOURNALED IN SAID FORWARD BODY PORTION; (C) A FIRST PAIR OF WHEELS FIXED TO AND COAXIAL WITH SAID FRONT AXLE FOR SUPPORTING SAID FORWARD BODY PORTION FOR ROLLING MOTION THAT UNIFORMLY CONFORMS TO SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE; (D) NOISE MAKING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRONT AXLE AND OPERATED BY ROTATION OF SAID FRONT AXLE; (E) A REARWARD BODY PORTION; (F) A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PIN FIXED TO SAID FIRST PORTION AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREOF IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY LONGITUDINAL OF THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF SAID TOY, SAID REARWARD BODY PORTION BEING LOOSELY JOURNALED ON SAID HORIZONTAL PIN FOR PIVOTAL MOTION RELATIVE TO SAID FORWARD BODY PORTION GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TOY; (G) STOP MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FORWARD AND REARWARD BODY PORTIONS FOR LIMITING THE EXTENT OF SAID PIVOTAL MOTION; (H) SAID REARWARD BODY PORTION BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING RECESS IN ITS FORWARD SURFACE CONFRONTING THE REARWARD SURFACE OF SAID FORWARD BODY PORTION; (I) A REAR AXLE JOURNALED IN SAID TRANSVERSE RECESS, SAID REAR AXLE BEING CONFIGURED TO DEFINE OPPOSITELY DISPOSED CRANK ARMS AT ITS RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS; (J) A PAIR OF REAR WHEELS, EACH ONE OF WHICH IS FIXED ON A RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ONE OF SAID CRANK ARMS FOR IMPARTING SAID ROCKING PIVOTAL MOTION TO SAID REARWARD BODY PORTION IN RESPONSE TO ROLLING OF SAID WHEELS ON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE; (K) MEANS COOPERATING WITH EACH OF SAID RESPECTIVE CRANK ARMS FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID REAR WHEELS RELATIVE TO SAID CRANK ARMS; (L) A GENERALLY VERTICAL PIN FIXED TO SAID REARWARD BODY PORTION AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM; AND (M) AN UPPER BODY PORTION LOOSELY AND ECCENTRICALLY JOURNALED ON SAID VERTICAL PIN FOR FREE SWINGING, PIVOTAL MOTION RELATIVE TO SAID REARWARD BODY PORTION IN RESPONSE TO SAID ROCKING MOTION OF SAID REARWARD BODY PORTION. 